Freelance Motoring Writer

Cars are an easy target, whether for environmentalists arguing they’re too damaging, city planners saying they clog streets or safety experts pointing to the road toll.

Even owners love to put the humble automobile in the crosshairs for soaking up too much of their hard-earned.

But we can’t get enough of them. This year, sales of new vehicles in Australia are on track to reach a record 1.1 million. And the number of vehicles per head continues to grow.

Interestingly, Tasmanians own more vehicles per head of population than any other state, with an average of 844 per 1000 people, compared with just 672 in NSW (the second-lowest, behind the Northern Territory with 607) and an Australia-wide average of 745.

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As much as we’re embracing cheap airfares and (in some cases) better public transport, it’s clear we can’t live without cars and are in no hurry to abandon them, despite recent statistics that suggest younger generations prefer a smartphone to a set of wheels.

The next trick is making cars more efficient, safer and cleaner. It’s something manufacturers are working on, but the biggest challenge remains creating something people want to own.

There’s no point building an uncrashable, emissions-free car if it costs millions.